Exact Change

I’ve been observing this for years, and I don’t mean any disrespect. I just want to know. What is it about old folks and exact change? Specifically, why do seniors at the check out line seem so intent on getting rid of pennies? OK, look — not all seniors, of course. But this tendency seems very over-represented in the senior population, particularly among women.

My mother, who just turned seventy, admits that she does it, but says that she has been doing it for years, this wait-wait-wait-I-have-the-exact-change thing and the other thing, the I’ll-give-you-a-penny-and-you-give-me-a-nickel thing. So she says it’s a generational thing.

I have other theories — existential, economic, and some others — but I’m not satisfied with any, so please let me know. It’s not that I mind. It’s not that I’m disrespectful to my elders. I just want to know what this is about.

For example, if it’s not generational, when does this impulse kick in, and why?